View source for Help:Creation and usage of media files

{{main|Help:Files}}
{{Wikipedia how to|WP:CMF|WP:CUM}}
Images, audio and video files must be uploaded into Wikipedia using the "Upload file" link on the left-hand navigation bar. Only [[Help:Logging in|logged in]] users [[m:Help:Images and other uploaded files|can upload files]]. Once a file is uploaded, other pages can include or link to the file. Uploaded files are given the "File:" prefix by the system, and each one has an [[Wikipedia:Image description page|image description page]]. Please consider uploading freely licensed content to the [[Wikimedia Commons]] instead of here. This allows the files to be used in articles instantly by all Wikimedia projects. Files from [[Wikimedia Commons]] use the same syntax described below, there is no extra step needed. The maximum size of an uploaded file is 100 [[megabytes]]. The following file types may be uploaded: [[Portable Network Graphics|png]], [[Graphics Interchange Format|gif]], [[JPEG|jpg]]/[[JPEG|jpeg]], [[XCF (file format)|xcf]], [[Portable Document Format|pdf]], [[MIDI|mid]], [[ogg]]/[[Theora|ogv]]/[[Ogg|oga]], [[Scalable Vector Graphics|svg]], [[DjVu|djvu]] and [[WebM|webm]]. note: pdf and djvu are intended primarily for projects like [[Wikisource]]. [[File:Editing basics - Uploading and adding images.webm|thumb|250px|A screencast that walks through how to upload files to Wikimedia Commons and add them to Wikipedia articles.]]

If you want to give a link to the file description page in an article, use an extra colon at the front, ''e.g.'', "<code>[<nowiki/>[:File:''[[wp:pgn|pagename]]''</code>". If you type "<code>[<nowiki/>[Media:''[[wp:pgn|pagename]]'']]</code>", a download link to the media file is created. The page name will contain the file type such as ''pagename''.jpg.

== Special characters and math ==
It is not necessary to upload images to use special characters or even complex mathematical expressions.

Wikipedia uses a [[UTF-8]] encoding scheme, which means that any [[Unicode]] character can and should be entered directly. See [[m:Help:Special characters]] for details and help. (You can also use [[SGML entity|SGML entities]] for certain characters, such as <code>&amp;amp;</code> for & or <code><nowiki>&amp;#233;</nowiki></code> for é.)

For mathematical formulae, we use [[TeX]] markup. For help and instructions, see [[m:Help:Formula]].

== Text files ==

Please do not upload plain text ([[Text file|.txt]]), [[Microsoft Word]] (.doc), or text files in other formats. Instead, please [[Wikipedia:How to start a page|start a new page]] and input the text using standard wiki formatting. Please do not dump text into Wikipedia unless you wrote it yourself, or you know that it meets the project's stringent copyright licensing requirements.

In rare cases an HTML file is uploaded, for example as a test or demonstration.

Occasionally a [[PDF]] file is uploaded. However, most PDFs should be converted into wikitext. Source documents should be uploaded to [[Wikisource]] instead.

For a discussion on uploading spreadsheets, see the [[Wikipedia talk:Creation and usage of media files|talk page]].

== Images ==
{{see|Wikipedia:Uploading images}}
{{hatnote|See also: [[Help:Introduction to uploading images/1|Introduction to uploading images]]}}

Typically the [[commons:Commons:First steps|first step]] in using an image or other media file is to [[c:Commons:Upload|upload]] it to [[Wikimedia Commons]], but for legal reasons, some files must be [[Special:Upload|uploaded]] to the English Wikipedia instead. ''[[Wikipedia:Upload]]'' helps you to choose between these options.

Images can be displayed directly on Wikipedia pages.

The preferred formats are [[JPEG]] for photographic images and [[Scalable Vector Graphics]] (SVG) for drawings, though [[Portable Network Graphics|PNG]] can also be used. [[Vector graphics]] are preferred to [[raster graphics]] for drawings, because they can be scaled as needed without losing information, and can be edited more easily.

=== Image usage ===
{{see|Wikipedia:Picture tutorial}}
{{seealso|Wikipedia:Extended image syntax|Wikipedia:Image use policy}}
Type "<code><nowiki>[[</nowiki>Image:''FILENAME''|alt=''ALT TEXT''|''TITLE TEXT''<nowiki>]]</nowiki></code>" when you want to display an image file directly. In most cases, a thumbnail is more useful: "<code><nowiki>[[</nowiki>Image:''FILENAME''|thumb|alt=''ALT TEXT''|''CAPTION''<nowiki>]]</nowiki></code>". See [[Wikipedia:Picture tutorial]] for further information.

== Audio ==
{{redirect|WP:Audio|the Spoken Wikipedia Project|Wikipedia:WikiProject Spoken Wikipedia}}
{{main|Wikipedia:Media help}}
Wikipedia uses the [[Ogg Vorbis]], [[FLAC]] and [[WAV]] format for audio, as they are not encumbered by patents (an issue that prompted the decision in 2004 that MP3 files would not be hosted at Wikipedia<ref>{{cite web |url=https://lists.wikimedia.org/pipermail/wikien-l/2004-July/014225.html |title=[WikiEN-l] Should MP3 files be allowed on wikipedia – Current ongoing discussion. |date=2004-07-17 |publisher=WikiEN-l mailing list |accessdate=2017-11-27}}</ref>). Since then, the MP3 patents have expired and Wikimedia legal has given permission to allow uploading as needed by Wikimedia or its communities.<ref>{{cite web|date=2017-06-05|title=T120288 Enable MP3 uploads on Wikimedia Commons and TMH playback|url=https://phabricator.wikimedia.org/T120288#3316046|accessdate=2017-11-27}}</ref>

Software supporting Vorbis exists for many platforms. [[Mozilla Firefox 4]], [[Opera 10|Opera 10.5]] and [[Google Chrome|Google Chrome 3]] and later each include their own support for Ogg Vorbis files. As for multimedia players, [[Winamp]] can be used to play Ogg Vorbis files. Although [[iTunes]] does not natively support Vorbis, Xiph.Org provides [https://www.xiph.org/quicktime/ a QuickTime component] which can be used in players that rely on [[QuickTime]], such as iTunes, on both [[Microsoft Windows]] and [[Mac OS]]. [https://www.xiph.org/dshow/ DirectShow filters] exist to decode Vorbis in multimedia players like [[Windows Media Player]] and others which support [[DirectShow]]. 

Useful software for audio:
*For audio editing, [[Audacity (audio editor)|Audacity]] is a high quality [[free software|free]] audio recorder/editor for Windows, Macintosh, and Linux/Unix.
*[[Sweep (software)|Sweep]] is another free audio editor which can be used in Linux environments.
*For encoding to Ogg Vorbis, it is recommended that you use [http://wiki.hydrogenaudio.org/index.php?title=Recommended_Ogg_Vorbis Hydrogenaudio-recommended encoders] for best results. oggenc (cross-platform) is the command-line encoder, while OggDropXPd (Windows-only) is an easy-to-use GUI for encoding to Ogg Vorbis.
*[https://www.dbpoweramp.com/dmc.htm dBpowerAMP Music Converter] ([[proprietary software|proprietary]], Windows-only) offers a convenient GUI for transcoding between most audio codecs, including Ogg Vorbis. The Vorbis encoder must be downloaded separately from the software, but it is freely available from the same website.
* The easiest way to play Ogg Vorbis files on legacy Macintoshes (OS 9 and earlier) is to use [http://www.jwgdesign.com/mpegdec/download.htm#justogg JustOgg].

The [https://wiki.xiph.org/Vorbis_Software_Players Vorbis Software Players node at the xiph.org wiki] has an up-to-date list of Vorbis-supporting software for all operating systems. Users can test these players using the list of Vorbis audio streams available at [https://wiki.xiph.org/index.php/VorbisStreams].

=== Audio usage ===
{{main|Help:Sound file markup}}
Most viable is to use [[:Template:Listen]], see its page for detailed description, common usage is listed here:

:<code><nowiki>{{</nowiki>listen |filename=''FILENAME''.ogg |title=''TITLE'' |description=''DESCRIPTION'' <nowiki>}}</nowiki></code>

{{listen |filename=Accordion chords-01.ogg |title=Accordion chords |description=Chords being played on an accordion }}
Example:
:<code><nowiki>{{listen |filename=Accordion chords-01.ogg |title=Accordion chords |description=Chords being played on an accordion }}
</nowiki></code>

There are several other audio templates used primarily for demonstrating pronunciation of foreign languages or obscure terms, such as {{tl|audio-IPA}}. When adding a sound file to an article, such as [[English language]] or [[Irish phonology]] avoid using a template that only links to the raw sound file, as this effectively hides important licensing information that allows readers to see who created and uploaded the file, its source and under what license it was published.

=== Lists of uploaded music===
* [[Wikipedia:Sound/list]]
* [[Wikipedia:Sound/list/playlist]]

=== Lists of uploaded spoken articles ===
*[[{{SITENAME}}:Spoken articles]]

=== Further information on audio files ===
* [[Wikipedia:Music samples]]
* [[:Category:Wikipedia requested audio of songs]]
* [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Free music]]
* [[Wikipedia:Wikipedia Signpost/2005-02-14/Music recordings]]
* [[Wikipedia:Media help (MIDI)]]
* [[Wikipedia:Media help (Ogg)]]
* [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Composers/Guidelines for using sound excerpts]]

== Video ==
{{see|Wikipedia:Media help}}
{{hatnote|See also [[Commons:Commons:Video|Commons:Video]] and [[Commons:Help:Converting video]]}}
Wikipedia uses [[WebM]] and [[Ogg Theora]] for video because they are open source and royalty-free. Since most popular movie/audio formats are patented and require a royalty, there are no free all-purpose video converters. See also [[:Commons:Help:Converting video|WikiCommons' Theora video conversion help page]].

=== Limitations and implementation issues ===
* Both the Wikipedia project and the Wikimedia Commons limit uploads to a maximum of 100 megabytes (though it is possible to [[commons:Commons:Chunked uploads|upload larger files using chunked uploads]]).

=== Useful software ===
* For video, ffmpeg2theora [http://www.v2v.cc/~j/ffmpeg2theora/examples.html][http://wiki.transmission.cc/index.php/FFMPEG2THEORA] is a command line encoder capable of converting numerous file formats (.mov, .mpg, .mpeg, .avi) into Ogg Theora. It works on Windows, Macintosh, and Linux/Unix. ([[Wikipedia talk:Creation and usage of media files/Archive 1#How to use ffmpeg2theora|how to use ffmpeg2theora]].)
*You can also use the encoder_example application included with [[Theora|libtheora]] in combination with a program like MPlayer [http://www.mplayerhq.hu/] that is capable of dumping raw (yuv4mpeg) video and sound to encode in Ogg Theora
* http://programmer-art.org/projects/arista-transcoder and http://www.linuxrising.org/transmageddon/ are graphical transcoders for Unix / Linux
* [[Kdenlive]], [[OpenShot]], and other video programs are available for Linux that can edit Theora and WebM videos
* The ''directshow filters'' can be used to encode Ogg Theora using [[GraphEdit]].[https://www.xiph.org/dshow/pmwiki.php/Main/EncTheoraGraphedit]{{Dead link}}
* The Xiph.org wiki has a list of [https://wiki.xiph.org/index.php/TheoraSoftwareEncoders Theora Software Encoders]
* [http://handbrake.fr/ handbrake] is a free (GPL'd) transcoder for Windows, Mac, and Linux
* [[Adobe Premiere Pro]] can export videos directly in WebM format by using the free [https://github.com/fnordware/AdobeWebM fnordware plugin (Win/Mac)].

For assistance with conversion, consider contacting the following editors:
*[[User:Raul654|Raul654]]
*[[User:Gmaxwell|Gmaxwell]] ([[Linux]] only)
*[[User:GChriss|GChriss]] ([[Linux]] only)
*[[User:Makaristos|Makaristos]] ([[macOS]] and [[Linux]])
*[[User:Alton|Alton]] ([[macOS]])
*[[User:Saoshyant|Ivo]] (all platforms)

=== Video usage ===
==== Embedding video ====
[[File:A11v 1094228.ogv |thumb |200px |alt=A spacesuited astronaut slowly climbs down a ladder on a complicated metal structure, and then hops the last step onto a bright terrain. |Television clip of Buzz descending the ladder and stepping onto the Moon.]]

The easiest way to embed video directly into an article is by using the same [[Help:Files#Using_files|<nowiki>[[File:]]</nowiki>]] tag as for image files. The result is on the right.

: <code><nowiki>[[File:A11v 1094228.ogv |thumb |200px |alt=A spacesuited astronaut slowly climbs down a ladder on a complicated metal structure, and then hops the last step onto a bright terrain. |Television clip of Buzz descending the ladder and stepping onto the Moon. ]]</nowiki></code>

====Setting a video thumbnail image ====
By default, a frame from the midpoint of the video is used for the initial still image. To use a different frame, use the thumbtime parameter. For instance:

:<code><nowiki>[[File:Bombers of WW1.ogg |thumbtime=3 |thumb |200px |alt=World War I era biplanes on bombing runs, captioned "Captain 'Eddie' Rickenbacker, American 'Ace of Aces,' over the lines – looking for a scrap." then "Bombing the German lines." |"Bombers of WW1" with a still from 3 seconds]]</nowiki></code>

Specify the time in seconds, or use colons to separate hours, minutes and seconds.

{|
| [[File:Bombers of WW1.ogg |thumb |200px |alt=The initial image is blank white sky. The video shows World War I era biplanes on bombing runs, captioned "Captain 'Eddie' Rickenbacker, American 'Ace of Aces,' over the lines – looking for a scrap." then "Bombing the German lines." |"Bombers of WW1" with a still from the midpoint]]
| [[File:Bombers of WW1.ogg |thumbtime=3 |thumb |200px |alt=Same video as before, except the initial image is three biplanes in the air |"Bombers of WW1" with a still from 3 seconds]]
|}

==== Temporal media fragments ====
[[File:Weeding.ogv|thumb|300px|start=5|end=7|Starts at 5 seconds and ends playback at 7 seconds]]
Allows embed code to reference a segment of the video stream or set a start time. Hover over the player to see start time listed as 5s, press play and notice it stops playback at 7 seconds.
: <code><nowiki>[[File:Weeding.ogv|thumb|300px|start=5|end=7|Starts at 5 seconds and ends playback at 7 seconds]]</nowiki></code>

One can also use MM:SS or HH:MM:SS format for start and end.

'''Note:''' This is not yet supported on Safari and Internet Explorer<!-- isn't IE depreciated, is it worth removing -->.

==== Linking to a video ====
{{Seealso|m:Video policy|Help:Media|commons:Category:Commons video resources}}
There are two types of links to a video:
* <code>File</code>&nbsp;– To create a link to the video's File Description Page,
** use <code><nowiki>[[:File:Time Lapse of New York City.ogv]]</nowiki></code>. 
** To make the text of a link to the video's File Description Page appear as some text other than the video's filename, use <code><nowiki>[[:File:Time Lapse of New York City.ogv|some text you prefer]]</nowiki></code>. 
* <code>Media</code>&nbsp;– To create a link that downloads the video, 
** use <code><nowiki>[[Media:Time Lapse of New York City.ogv]]</nowiki></code> or use <code><nowiki>[[:Media:Time Lapse of New York City.ogv]]</nowiki></code>. 
[[File: Time Lapse of New York City.ogv|thumb|some text you prefer]]
** To make the text of a link that downloads the video appear as some text other than the video's filename, use <code><nowiki>[[Media:Time Lapse of New York City.ogv|some text you prefer]]</nowiki></code> or use <code><nowiki>[[:Media:Time Lapse of New York City.ogv|some text you prefer]]</nowiki></code>.

=== Related WikiProjects ===
* [[WP:WikiProject Wiki Makes Video]]
* [[WP:WikiTV]]
* [[:commons:User:Jan Schwefel/WikiTV & WikiVideo projects|List of WikiTV & WikiVideo projects]]

==Moving files to Commons==
{{main|Wikipedia:Moving files to Commons}}
Many files have been uploaded to Wikipedia. A long-term project under way is to move [[free content]] files—including images and audio—to [[Wikipedia:Wikimedia Commons|Wikimedia Commons]]. Commons provides a central location for files for use on all [[Wikimedia Foundation]] projects.

Commons employs more restrictive policies on copyright issues than the English Wikipedia does; for instance, [[WP:FAIRUSE|fair-use]] images such as most images of [[album]] [[cover art]] cannot be hosted on Commons.

== See also ==
* [[Special:Filelist]]
* [[mw:Manual:MediaWiki file usage]] – Technical information about MediaWiki file storage methods.
* [[commons:Commons:File types|Commons:File types]]
* [[commons:Category:Commons resources|Category:Commons resources]]
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==References==
<references />